Sept. 19, 2014
SAN DIEGO -
No. 20 San Diego State had its three-game winning streak halted Friday night as cross-town foe USD defeated the Aztecs, 2-0, at Torero Stadium. With the loss, SDSU falls to 4-2-1, while San Diego improves to 2-4-2.
The game was a tale of two halves as the Toreros dictated the pace in the first half. USD possessed the ball for a majority of the time and used one of its five corner kicks to post the only goal of the half. In the 17th minute, Mariah Butera sent in a ball that Julia Sherwood tracked down and headed past SDSU goalkeeper Melanie Vaughn.
San Diego continued to pressure the Aztecs, but SDSU was able to prevent the home side from extending its advantage and trailed by one at intermission. At the half, USD enjoyed an advantage in both shots (4-2), shots on goal (3-1) and corner kicks (5-3).
The second half was the complete opposite in terms of ball control. San Diego State forced the action early and often and had a handful of excellent looks that it could not finish. The one it did complete, however, was called back. On that sequence, Victoria Barba sent in a cross in the 73rd minute that Jen Rupey headed into the right side of the net. The goal would have been the sophomore's first of the season and would have leveled the score.
As play continued, the Toreros' Jacey Birtcher took the ball from the left side of the pitch and sent a low laser to Nikki Pappalardo. The midfielder eluded an Aztec defender and slotted her shot into the lower right corner (77th minute) to give USD a lead San Diego State could not overcome.
As an indicator of how dominant the Aztecs were in the second half, SDSU outshot USD, 12-3, and put more shots on goal (5-2). San Diego State also attempted five corner kicks to the Toreros' zero.
Individually for SDSU, Mariah Helmer and Ashley Hauke each attempted three shots with Hauke posting two on goal. Haley Locker, Hannah Keane and Morgan Darling, meanwhile, were credited with two shots apiece. In net, Vaughn made three saves.
San Diego State returns to action on Sunday when it plays host to Idaho State at SDSU Sports Deck. Game time is set for noon PT and admission is free.